A judge in a small Nevada town has resigned following accusations of ethical lapses and abuse of power after 17 years on the bench.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that Goodsprings Township Justice of the Peace Dawn Haviland resigned September 18, less than a month after she was suspended without pay for one year.
Haviland was accused of sealing criminal records for family members and ordering court staff to conduct illegal criminal records searches.
Haviland’s attorney said the judge could not afford the judicial education classes ordered as part of her punishment. Haviland’s six-year term would have expired in 2018.
